Lens-grinding machine.



F. SCOVILLE. LENS GRINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION I`ILED'JAH.Z4, 1010.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. J6' 1,6 t

@l \IIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIllllllllllllllilli HNIILIIIH.

F. SCOVILLE.

LENS GRINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.24,1910. 1,003,816, Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

2 SHEETB-8HEET 2.

| fllllllln.

Ww i

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

FRANK SCOVILLE,.OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF T0 AVERYSCOVILLE, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

LENS- GRIN DIN Gr MACHINE.

Specification of Application led January 24, 1910.

I To all whom 'it may concern:

y l 3e it known that I, FRANK SoovILL-n, a citizen of the United States,residing yat Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in Lens-Grinding Machines,ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for grinding and polishing lenses,and partielllarly pertains to lens grinding machines which are adaptedto grind cylmder, toric cylinder or other lenses having compoundcurvatures.

It is the'object of this invent-ion to produce a lens-grinding machinein which simple means are provided for moving the lens across thegrlnding tool, and having means whereby the lens and the grindirig toolmay both be revolved simultaneously in the same direction and in suchmanner that the axis of the lens, and the corresponding axis of thegrinding tool will maintain a parallel relation to each other at allperiods of the rinding operation.

A further ojectis to provide means whereby the lens'may be lifted fromthe' grinding tool so as to permit of the application of freshV grindingor polishing materiarls. A

Another object is to rovide a lens-carrying block which can gie readilyremoved from the machine so that the operator may occasionally inspectthe work.

The invention consists of the parts, andl the construction andcombination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed,having reference to the accompanying drawings, 1n which- Figure l is avertical section of the invention on the line --w Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is aplan View. Fig. 3 is a detail in side elevation of the lens-holder. Fig.4 is a front view of same. Fig. 5 is a diagram illusytrating therelative position of the lens and the' lens view of t away. Fig. 7 is adiagram in plan,

rinding tool. Fig. 6 is a front ge machine, with a portion broken/showing 'the parallel position -of the corresponding axes of the lensand inding tool, as the former travels across t e face of the latter. Fi8 is a detail in vertical section of the adjustable eccentric.

4In the drawings A represents the base'or bed-plate of the machine,which may be constructed and mounted in any suitable manl ner. Astandard 2 is formed on the bedplate A, and is adapted to support ahous` l mg or carriage 3 which is swivelly mounted on the standard 2 andadapted to be oscillated or swun from side to side thereon as laterdescribed. l

A drive-shaft 4 extendswupward through the standard 2, the upper endterminating y within the housing or carriage 3; this upper end beinglitted with a pinion 5 which meshes with an idler-gear 6 suitablymounted within the housing. The drive-shaft 4 is also provided with ainion 7,- corresponding in size to the pinion 5. The pinion 7 is securedto the shaft beneath the bed-plate A and meshes with an idler-gear 8, atrifle smaller in size than the idler-gear 6 suitably mounted on theunderside of the bedplate, as shown in Fig. 1.

A spindle 10, carrying a grinding tool 11, is provided with a gear l2which meshes with the idler 8. The spindle 10 extends through, and issupported upon a standard V13 on the bed-plate A, and is provided with adust-cap `14 beneath the tool 11.

A lens-carryingvspindle 15 is vertically mounted in the vhousing 3, andis adapted to be reciprocated up and down by means of a lever-16,fulcrumed at 17, and so constructed as to be connected to a vfoot-pedalat one end,and is provided with a handle 16 at the oppositevend.

A gear 17 mounted on the spindle 15 meshes with the idler-gear 6 on ytheinsie of the housing 3, and is of such length s .to be iny constantengagement with the gear 6, irrespective of the position assumed by thespindle 15 as it is moved up or down by the lever 16.

A yoke 18 is formed on the lower end of the spindle 15, in which aspider or crossarm 19 is pivotally mounted. The outer free ends of thecross-arm are provided with upwardly and downwardly projecting flangeswhich carr a device for engaging and disengaging t e lens-carrying diskor block 20.

Oppositely disposed lugs 21-21 are formed on the lens-carrying block 20,and are perforated yat their upper ends with holes 22 which are adaptedto register with corresponding holes in the downwardly projectin flangeson the cross-arm 19.

ounted in the upwardly proJectmg flanges on the cross-arm 19 isa pair ofparallel disposed pins 23, which extend horizontally across thecross-arm, one end of each pinbeing provided with a button or head 24,and thevopposite end being bent ydownward and inward so that theopposite end 25 will extend through the holes in the lower flanges andproject into the holes 22 inthe lugs 21 of the lens-holding block 20.Stiff springs 26'act upon the pins 23 to normally retainy the ends 25 inengagement with the disk 2O as shownin Fig. 4. By pressing vthe buttonsor heads 24 toward each other, and in opposition to the springs 26, the`ends 25 will be .withdrawn from the holes 22, and this permits of theready removal of the lens-carrying block 20.

The housing 3, carrying the idler gear 6 and the lens-carrying spindle15 is turned from side to side on the standard-2, by means of anadjustable eccentric 27 which is mounted on a vertical shaft 28, and isdriven from the drive-shaft 4 through the pinion 7, idler 9 and a gear29 on the lower end of the shaft 28, said pinion 7, meshing with theidler 9. The eccentric is connected to the housing 3 by means of a linkconnection, an arm 30 on the housing 3 being pivoted at 31 to theeccentric arm 32.

In operation the lens to` be ground is fastened tothe under-side of thelens-carrying block 20, with a suitable cement. Emery or other desiredgrinding. or polishing material is then placed upon the grlnding tool11-vin the usual manner.- The grinding tool 11 and the lens-carryingblock 2O areV then caused to revolve in the same direction by drivingthe shaft 4in any suitable manner. At the same time,I the lenscarryingblock 20, 'with its lens, is caused tov travel back and forth over thegrinding tool by means of the eccentric 27 and its connections, whichyswing the housing 3 on the standard2. The lens is then brought incontact with the grinding tool, the,f weight ofthe gear 17 beingsufficient to retaln the lens upon the tool.

By lifting the lever 16 by the, lever 16, the'block 20 may be raised toits uppermost position so that when the lens is lifted from the grindingtool 1-1 into the position shown in Fig. 1, it permits of theapplication of fresh emery or other grinding material to the grindingtool 11 without necessitating the stopping of the machine.

The grinding action .of this machine is accomplished in the essentialmanner necessary t'o the successful manufacture of lenses,.

which s to constantly maintain the axis of the lens, and thecorresponding axis of the grinding tool in parallel relation, asillustrated in diagram in Fig. 7. It will be seen that by virtue of theidler-gears 6 and 8, through which motion is transmitted to the grindingtool and the lens-carrier, from the drive-shaft 4, the gears 12 and 17,and their vprefer to employ at its ends on said spindle,

spindles will maintain the same relative position regardless of thepositionof the housing 3, the gears, same diameter.

The idler-gear 6 in the housing 3 is slightly larger in diameter thanythe idler 8 and the gears 12 and 17 are of equal diameters thusdisposing the shafts 10 and 1,5 slightly eccentric to eachother.' Bythis construction the lens on the lens carrying block 20 on the shaft 15will be carried across thegrinding tool l11 in such manner that thecenter ofthe lens will be slightly eccentric -to the center of the toolas shown in Fig. 5,

thus insuring a constant grinding actlon.

While I have shown' spur-gears in the drawings, it is obvious that thesame results can be accomplishedthrough the medium of bevel. gearing,spiral gearing, cranks, or their equivalents. It is also apparent thatone, tWo, or more grinding spindles and,

lens-carrying spindles y can be mounted around the pinionsv 5&7 and bedriven through idler-gears, similar to 6 8, but yI two, as illustratedinthe drawings in Figs. 2 and 6, ,as by this. arrangement a pair oflenses can be ground at one operation. f

5, 7, 12, 17 being vof the Having thus described my invention, what Y Iclaim andrdesire tol secure by Letters Patent is-- 1..In combinationwith a lens-grinding machine, means for removably engaging thelens-holder with the lens-carrying spindle, comprising a cross-armpivotally mounted and oppositely acting spring-pressed means onsald'crossarm for engaging a lens-carrying disk substantially asdescribed.

2. In a lens-grindingmachine having a rotatable grinding tool and arotatable lensx holder mounted eccentric to the grinding l l tool, meansfor rotating the grinding tool and the lens-holder in the samedirection, said means comprising a vertically disposed drive shaft ainion on the upper end of said driveshaft meshing with said idler gear,anda second inion on said drive sha t meshing with an' idler gearmeshing 'with a pinion to rotate the grinding tool.`

3.`In alens-grinding machine having a rotatable grinding -tool and arotatable lensholder mounted .eccentric to the grinding tool, means forrotating the grinding tool and the lens-holder in the same direction,said an idler gear meshing with said ypinlon, a pinion'on alens-carrying spindle vlao means comprising'. a vertically disposeddrive f shaft, pinions on the "drive sha t meshing with idlergears,separate spindles carrying the grinding tool and the lens-carrier,`andgears on said spindles meshing with the idler gears. f

4. In a lens-grinding machine having a rotatable grinding tool and arotatable lensholder mounted eccentric to the grinding ytool, means forrotating the grinding ltool and the lens-holder in .the same direction,said means comprising a vertically disposed drive shaft, pinions on thedrive shaft meshing'with idler gears, separate spindles carrying thegrinding tool and the lens-carrier, gears on said spindles meshing withthe idler gears, and adjustable'means for mov- `ing said lens-holderback and forth across the grinding tool. Y

5. In a lens-grinding machine, the combination of a bed plate, a tubularstandard formed thereon, a housingpivotally mounted on the tubularstandard, a vertical lens carrying spindle slidably mounted in thehousing, a gear fixed on said spindle, and transmitting gears within thehousing,

`means for operating said transmitting gears, and adjustable means forsaid housing on the standard.

6. In a lens-grinding machine, the combination of a bed plate, a tubularstandard vertically disposed thereon, a housing pivotally mounted on thestandard, adjustable means for (.scillating said housing, a verticallydisposed drive shaft extending through said standard terminating in saidhousing, a pinion on the upper end of said drive shaft,`an idler gearmounted on the housing' meshing with said gear, a lens-carrying spindlevertically mounted in the housing, and a gear fixed on said lspindle inconstant mesh with said idler gear and rotatable thereby.

7. In a lens-grinding machine, the combination of a bed plate, a tubularstandard oscillating ,vertically disposed thereon, a housing pivotallymounted on the standard, adjustable means for oscillating said housing,a vertically disposed drive shaft extending through said standard'terminating in said housing, a pinion on the upper end of said driveshaft, an idler gear mounted on the housing-meshing with saidI gear, alens-carryiiigspindle. vertically mounted in the housing, a gear fixedon said spindle in constant vmesh with said idler gear and rotatablethereby, means for reciprocating said spindle while being rotated, andzwhile the gear thereon is in mesh with the idler, a pinion on thedri-ve shaft below the bed plate, an idler gear mounted on the bed platein mesh therewith, a vertically disposed spindle mounted in said bedplate, and a gear on said spindle in constant mesh with said idler and'rotated thereby to revolve the spindle.

8. In a lens-grinding machine, the combination of a bed plate, a tubularstandard vertically disposed thereon, a housing pivotally mounted on thestandard, adjustable means for oscillating said housing, averticallydisposed drive shaft extending through said standardterminating in said housing, a pinion on the upper end of said driveshaft, 'an idler gear mounted on the housing meshing with said gear, a`lens-carrying spindle vertically mountedhin the housing, a gear fixedon said spindle in constant mesh 'with said idler gear and rotatablethereby,

means for reciprocating said spindle While being rotated and While thegear thereon is in mesh with the idler, a pinion on the drive shaftbelow therbed plate, an idler gear mounted on the bed plate in meshtherewith, a vertically disposed spindle mounted in said bed plate, anda gear on said spindle in constant mesh with said idlerand rotatedthereby to `revolve the spindle, the gear on thelens-carrying spindlebeing of smaller diameterthan the gear on the last lnamed spindle andsaid spindles being disposed eccentric to each other.

9. In a lens-grinding machine, the combination of a bed plate, a tubularstandard vertically disposed thereon, a housing pivotally mounted on.thestandard', a vertically disposed drive shaft extending ythrough saidstandard terminating in said housing, a pinion on the upper end of saiddrive shaft, an idler gearmounted on the housing meshing with saidpinion, a lens-carrying spindle vertically mounted in the housing,

a gear fixed on said spindle in constant mesh with said idler gear androtatable thereby, means for reciprocating said spindle while beingrotated and While the gear thereon is in mesh with the idlera pinion onthe drive i shaft below the bed plate, an idler gear mounted en the bedplatein mesh therewith, ay vertically disposed spindle mounted in saidbed plate, a gear on said spindle in constant mesh with said idler'a'ndrotated thereby to revolve the spindle, the gear on the lens-carryingspindle'being of smaller diameter thany the gear on the last namedspindle and said spindles being disposed eccentric to each other, anadjustable eccentric and a means meshing with the last named piniononfthe drive shaft for rotating said adjustable eccentric to oscillatethe housing and carry the lens-carrying spindle across the grindingtool.

10. In a lens-grinding machine, the combination of a bed plate, atubular standard vertically disposed thereon, a housing pivotallymounted on the standard, a vertically disposed drive shaft extendingthrough said standard terminating in said housing, a pinion on the upperend of said drive shaft, an idler gear mounted on the housing meshingwith said pinion, a lens-carrying spindle vertically mounted in thehousing, a gear fixed on said spindle in constant mesh with said idlergear and rotatable thereby, means for `reciprocating said spindle Whilebeing rotated and while the gear thereon is in mesh with the idler, apinion on the drive shaft below the bed plate, an idler gear mounted onthe bed plate in mesh therewith, a vertically disposed spindle mountedin said bed plate, a gear on said spindle in constant mesh with saididler and rotated thereby to revolve the spindle, the gear on thelenscarrying spindle being of smaller vdiameter than the gear on thelast named spindle and said spindles being disposed eccentric to eachother, an adjustable eccentric a means meshing with the last namedpinion on `the drive shaft for rotating said adjustable eccentric tooscillate the housing andV carry the lens-carrying spindle across thegrinding tool, a detachable and rockable lensholder on saidlens-carrying spindle, and

means on said spindle to normally retain said lens-holder .in contactWith the grinding tool.

In testimonyv whereof I ha'ye hereunto set myihand in the presence oftwo subscribing Copiesof this patent may be obtained for v cents each,by addressing the Commissioner 'of Patents,

Washington, I). C.

